Saudi-Led Coalition Condemns UAE’s Unauthorized Military Transfer to Al-Rayyan Base
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen has issued a statement condemning the unauthorized transfer of military vehicles and containers by the UAE to the Al-Rayyan base east of Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut province. The coalition described the move as a provocative act that risks escalating conflict in the region.
The statement revealed that after discovering the transfer, the UAE was warned that such actions were unacceptable, and the shipment was ordered to return to port. While the vehicles were sent back, the weapons containers remain at the Al-Rayyan base.
According to confirmed intelligence, the equipment was intended for distribution across multiple locations in Hadhramaut’s valleys and deserts. In response, the coalition conducted a limited military operation at dawn to ensure civilian safety and protect port facilities.
The coalition emphasized that the remaining containers at Al-Rayyan are under strict surveillance. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over influence in Yemen have persisted since the coalition’s intervention in 2015, with frequent clashes between their respective proxies in southern Yemen.
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the UAE’s actions as “highly dangerous” and outside the framework of the Arab coalition. It expressed regret over UAE pressure on the Southern Transitional Council to operate in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, reaffirming support for Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.
Saudi Arabia demanded the withdrawal of UAE military forces from Yemen within 24 hours, calling for an end to military and financial support to internal factions. It stressed that dialogue remains the only solution to the crisis.
Rashad Al-Alimi, head of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, accused the UAE of supporting rebels and inciting unrest, announcing the cancellation of a joint defense agreement with the UAE. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, a 72-hour closure of ports, and deployed Yemeni forces to secure military sites in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra.
